PITTSBURGH -- JJ Wetherholt has been to PNC Park plenty of times.
Growing up in the northern Pittsburgh suburb of Mars, Pa., Wetherholt was a big Pirates fan and idolized outfielder Andrew McCutchen. There was also a time, as a child, when Wetherholt was late to his own party at PNC Park because his friend’s father couldn’t find a parking space close to the stadium.
Wetherholt played collegiately at West Virginia and took part in three Backyard Brawls against Pitt, which are played annually at PNC Park.
Yet it was a different situation for Wetherholt on Monday night. Wetherholt is the Cardinals’ rookie second baseman and leadoff hitter, and the Redbirds were in town to open a four-game series. It marked Wetherholt’s first time in Pittsburgh as a Major League player.
“It’s crazy,” Wetherholt, St. Louis' No. 1 prospect, said before the game. “It’s kind of a goofy experience, but it’s such an honor to be here. Playing against the team you grew up rooting for will always hold a special place in your heart.
“For me, I feel like it’s just how many games I’ve watched here, so I feel like I know this park better than any other park. Just being here as a kid and playing here a little bit in college was super cool. The backdrop of the city you grew up in, to be able to play in a ballpark like that is special.”
Pirates manager Don Kelly also lives in -- not on -- Mars and got a kick out of seeing Wetherholt in an MLB uniform for a regular-season game.
“A really cool story with JJ, and the career that he had at Mars and West Virginia, and to be up with the Cardinals is really cool,” Kelly said. “Baseball in Western PA is really strong right now.”
Wetherholt, 23, entered Monday night hitting .238/.363/.406 with five home runs in 27 games. He is living up to being ranked the game’s No. 5 prospect coming into Spring Training.
“He’s had an incredible season,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “I think we’ve talked quite a bit about his success early, not only offensively, but defensively, on the bases, his demeanor, what he brings to the club. There are a lot of positives there, especially for a young kid.”